OOC: I will reply to the keepers tomorrow as I've run out of time. For those fans of the Caeddrhy, I hope to be hosting a Caeddrhy Dragon hatching sometime late February/early March.

<<YAY! More Caeddrhy Dragons! *Dances around like a moron.*>>

I offered may hand towards the spattered brown lizard, grinning delightedly as his small talons, still soft in infancy, scratched lightly agaisnt my palm while I rubbed one finger beneath his chin.
"Yes, yours, I suppose... I think I'll call you Callaghan, if you choose to stay with me after I almost crushed you, my little dear," I murmured, snickering at the fire lizard's sudden, mercurial change in temperment towards me.
I frowned at the sudden question rising in my mind, staring about in confusion at the sudden inquiry, fixing my gaze on Callaghan in sheer puzzlement.
"You're not exactly advanced enough to make an inquisition of that intellect..." I frowned. But I was not left in a state of consternation for long. As if charmed by magnetism, my eyes once more drank in the image of the dark young Caeddrhy, the rhysitically deep Pelovettt, and my throat dried beneath his gaze and wonder.
"Um, I'll have to tell you later..." I murmured faintly, caught off guard and more than a touch embarassed that someone - no less an virgin-eared hatchling! - had heard my less-than-proper cursing. "That is, if you'd like to come with me. I know I'd be more than happy to claim your fine presence as a bond..."

Ravi couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm sorry I did forget that's how our conversation began. I am Ravi of the planet Panthran. The others here like me are my brother Runako and his mate Isoke. Our race is known as Panths and we are the humanoids of our world..." Ravi spoke a bit more about his homeworld and into his role as an Explorer. "I've taken more of a role in training new recruits and occassionally traveling the worlds with my brother or our offworld friends."

OOC: The background of the races of Panthran is already in several locations and I didn't want to bore anyone with it again.

Zylunna looked to Hythisyan with a huge grin which the male reflected from where he sat on the ground with his new companion deposited in his arms. "Lets go get these gorgious girls something to eat." She rose and took Hythisyan by the hand to propell him up and the four made their way to the food tables. Along the way introducing their friends to each other.

The Mahkkir keeper was so intent on watching Saiyuri that she was utterly oblivious to all attempts at conversation those around her made. Her glossed garnet keeper however heard the comfort that came from a member of the Panthran congregation. Seeking out the source he nodded his thanks to Mitexi before looking once more for His. He looked again at the one his keeper seemed so interested in, and as he did so she moved to rest her head against a figure beside her. He had not noticed this pale man with the violet eyes before that moment. As the Pelovettt stood, one wing still poised over the vigilant form of his rosy keeper, he saw the pair the watched speak to eachother.
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Doneryl looped his arm around her waist as Siayuri leaned her head to his shoulder. When she asked what to do he replied simply, in a soft murmur, “Speak to her.” He looked once more at her, smiling faintly, then turned back to gaze at the hatchlings. But as he looked he noticed that he was as well being watched and jumped a little, startled.

The keepers were moving toward them and he felt his back stiffen of its ow naccord, hoping that their approach meant what he thought it did and at the same time not daring to grasp that hope.

Saiyuri felt bolstered by Doneryl's arm as it gently encircled her waist. As he did that he told her to speak to the rose-white keeper but before she had the chance she felt Doneryl stiffen beside her and it was then that she realized the rose-white Mahkkir and her garnet mate were making their way towards them. Not able to tear her eyes away from the approaching pair Saiyuri breathed nervously, "Doner am I seeing things?"

Not even waiting for Doneryl's response Saiyuri suddenly found herself kneeling to the ground and sending to the little rose-white, *Sweet girl, have you two decided?* She didn't know what else to say and after she had sent that Saiyuri felt slightly foolish. Of course the pair had decided but they were probably going to go with Doneryl, he after all was a native of their homeworld. Despite that thought Saiyuri wouldn't let sadness creep into her heart, she'd be happy for him, she loved him and she wouldn't let anything change that.

At that last thought Saiyuri straightened noticably. What had just happened? Her gaze immediately shifted from the rose-white dragonet to Doneryl where he stood transfixed looking at the garnet hatchling. As she looked at him a smile danced across her lips and she realized that after their few months together the initial attraction she'd felt to this man had deepened into something she hadn't expected. Sure they'd been strangely close from the moment they met but she'd never dreamed... A girlish laugh escaped Saiyuri as she watched Doneryl; her heart was finally healed and whole once again. As she gazed at Doneryl she didn't even think to question if he felt the same way, nor did she think to question her first guess that both Keepers were going to be his.

<<*Giggles delightedly at Doneryl and Saiyuri.* How sweet! :D>>

Ecantra snorted with indignant amusement at Tessa’s comment about her brown son. “He is perfectly capable of an ‘inquisition of that intellect’” Syres looked down at the sport queen, noting the look of surprise on Tessa’s face at the audible remark the firelizard made. “I’m sorry, she’s always been a bit… frank and rather sharp-tongued,” Syres apologized. “The clutch I Impressed her from had been tampered with by some rogue mage or another and when she hatched she proudly pronounced her name in a clearly audible voice for all non-telepaths to hear. I’ve come to learn that she has control over storms as well.” Syres shook her head, shrugging helplessly. ((ooc: Ecantra was given to me on the KTBB with the description of ‘black w/ silver stripes Sport Queen: storm summoning, verbal speech’, and I added to her odd little self was her name. The whole clutch will be 'enhanced'))

*I think I might join you… if you promise to explain,* he teased, perfectly aware that the subject at hand was making her uncomfortable. *But first tell me your name, stranger.* The Pelovettt watched her intently, dark eyes studying her every reaction.

The hatchling’s eyes grew brighter as Ravi spoke, taking in each morsel with keen attention. *I would learn more, if I may join you?* He was aware that the Panthran had already offered but he wanted to be sure. He knew so little about his species and even less about those of other worlds and had an endless store of questions… The dusky cerulean dragonet edged closer to Ravi, sure that he was His, but still needing to hear an affirmation.

OOC: Quite understandable. I still need to write up my world histories, blech.

All Doneryl could do in response was to shake his head, staring wide-eyed as the keepers closed the distance. When the pair had reached them the Mahkkir looked up at Doneryl, studying this one her keeper had chosen. It was then that she heard the gentle tones of Saiyuri’s mental voice, a sound she had been waiting for. Yet she noticed that her chosen was uncertain in her presence and there was another emotion present that the hatchling recognized but could not quite place.

Her keeper untwined his tail from hers again only to wrap it firmly around his chosen’s ankle, causing the violet-eyed man-creature to topple over. Making a faint whimpering sound in apology, the Pelovettt nudged Doneryl’s head with his nose. All the man could do was laugh, however, and the garnet hatchling felt relief flooding him after fear of rejection over his clumsiness.

Doneryl managed to sit up, not even bothering to brush the sand from his clothes, and gazed in wonder at the hatchling before him. **Surely you don’t want me, dear sir, your keeper has chosen another.**

And indeed she had for the rose-white hatchling was watching Saiyuri with adoring eyes. *Yes, we have decided. You are Mine!* she declared. Doneryl stared blankly, wide-eyed. He had heard her when she’d not even spoken to him? Then again he wasn’t entirely surprised, he thought, watching Saiyuri from his position on the sands. They had spent only a few months in one another’s company yet even so, he was loathe to leave her side. It took him a moment to realize the implications of these feelings, as well as the obvious choices of the hatchlings. Closing his eyes and bowing his head he couldn’t help but smile, knowing that he loved this woman and that she shared his feelings.

At last he rose to a crouch before the hatchling, his ankle free of the garnet’s bind. Without him even voicing his next question the Pelovettt rubbed up against him, saying, **You are wrong, how could I choose any other?** Unaccustomed to tears, Doner didn’t even realize what made his eyes blur as he reached to stroke the hatchling before him. At length he stood again, gazing once more at Saiyuri and catching her eye. The look they shared spoke of all that had ensued in these last moments.

Saiyuri, since she had been watching the spectacle with Doneryl and the garnet Pelovett, was more than a little surprised to hear a voice in her mind. Not to mention one so sure of herself. The words, *Yes, we have decided. You are Mine!* answered the question Saiyuri had asked of the rose-white Mahkkir. With a gasp she turned to look in the hatchling's direction Saiyuri was greeted with a loving gaze from the dragonet she had thought would choose Doneryl over herself.

Slowly Saiyuri reached out a hand to caress the rose-white Mahkkir along her cheek and down her neck and all she could say to the little female was, *You honor me more than you know.* After that, words failed her completely. She couldn't believe what had just happened, it was unlike anything she'd ever felt before for even as she heard her little Mahkkir Saiyuri also heard Doneryl's Pelovett. Startled she looked at the other pair questioningly.

Maira had been standing off to the side watching the firelizards hatch when she had heard a gasp from Saiyuri's direction. Turning to look she spotted Saiyuri kneeling next to the rose-white Mahkkir and next to them were Doneryl and the garnet Pelovett. Quickly she turned to Syresluna and said excitedly, "Look at them, their dragonets make as striking a pair as they do!" Maira hadn't heard Doneryl's explanation of the Keepers and so she had no idea what it meant for the pair to each choose a different person.

"Um, it's... Um, it's Tessa..." I murmured distracted, trying to pull my eyes away from Callaghan's mother as she verbally - verbally! - berated me for my assumptions. Such interesting things rogue sorcerers could do...
Cradling the small brown to my chest, I crouched to meet the Pelovettt face-to-face, finding myself suddenly lost in the dark wonder of his eyes, the profound mystery that exuded from his consciousness.
"You're going to hear this a lot if you stay with me," I spoke with soft endearment, reaching forward to gently caress the dragonet's jaw, "but you're beautiful... Really beautiful, my young Caeddrhy prince..."
With growing confidence I began to rub my fingertips along the Pelovettt's throat, an ecstatic grin beginning to tug with bald, audacious joy at my lips.
"And," affection now tinged my tone as the pressure of my hands increased, "I do promise to explain everything to you... when you're older."
A playful wink of one steel blue eye assured the dragonet as I rose to a full standing position.
"Will you come?" I asked, inviting, one hand gesturing to the small family that now accompanied me, my eyes taking in Asthorié, Machere, Daegahna, Ferranerathe and Lierenorinthe by turn before turning a loving gaze back to my newest potential charges. "I think I know just the name for you..."

*BUMP*

OOC: It's terrible, but long over-due as it is, it's certainly something.

IC:
Syres smiled faintly in response to Maira’s comment, her eyes telling of her puzzlement. “They do indeed,” she murmured, now frowning. Turning to catch the other woman’s eye, she proceeded to explain the theory of the keepers as Doneryl had said earlier…
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Meeting Saiyuri’s gaze as she stared in surprise at he and the garnet, Doner gave a feeble grin. “Such is the mark of the keepers, I suppose. Though never have I witnessed a pair bonding separately… Certainly it’s not unknown, just highly rare.” To get his attention, the Pelovettt butted his head against his chosen’s arm. Doner turned back to the dragonling, grinning, and reached out to rub his eyeridges. “You’ll be wanting a name, now won’t you?” **And a meal!** He laughed. “Well let’s see to that meal and I’ll think of a fitting name for you, fine sir.”

He was grinning like a boy as he turned back to Saiyuri, violet eyes bright as the sun. “Have you thought of a name for this delicate rose?” Syres appeared at his elbow, a platter of meat balanced in either hand for the newly bonded pairs. “You certainly have a flare for rarity, don’t you?” she teased while he took the offered platter from her, choosing to ignore her comment and fruitlessly pondering a name.

Ravi smiled "You are very welcome to join me. I've taken a role as a teacher now so I'll happily answer those questions that burn inside you. What I dont' know we can seek together."

((OOC: sorry it's so short))